Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 2:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 2:21 p.m.

As construction of Leland's new town hall moves steadily forward, the fate of two of its old town halls hangs in the balance.

Construction on the new facility is on track for a Nov. 25 completion date, said Bob Morgan of Paragon Construction, the building's lead contractor.

"We're putting the roof on, and we're putting the exterior masonry on the building. The building is really taking shape. We're a little over halfway. The windows will be going in in the next month, and the exterior will finish up in the next two months," Morgan said.

Leland officials are a little more skeptical that the project will be finished on time.

David Hollis, Leland's town manager, noted that the contractors have used up $3.4 million of their $8.6 million budget, but that they are more than halfway through the project.

Even as the new building's walls take shape, there are questions about what to do with the existing town hall and the town's original town hall facility. Both the new and old buildings are part of Leland's municipal office complex off Village Road.

At last week's town council meeting, Brunswick Senior Resources floated the idea of using the land on the Village Road end of the town's property for a new senior center, a proposal town officials say they're intrigued by.

"I think it's perfect, myself, and everyone was in agreement with that the other night. It's right there by the park. It'd be right there by the town hall and the police station," said Mayor Brenda Bozeman, who added that the council asked the group to put together a formal proposal for the plan.

The county has started setting aside money for the new Leland senior center. But there's no timetable or firm site yet for the project.

One possible hitch in the plan is what to do with the white building that originally housed Leland's town hall, which sits on the land Brunswick Senior Resources is proposing building on.

Bozeman said that she'd like to see the old town hall moved or integrated into the senior center because of its historic value, but that any discussion is preliminary for now.

There are also questions about what to do with the current town hall. Options on the table include letting civic organizations use it for meetings on an as-needed basis.

"I think it's good for the town economy to have them there," Bozeman said. "When people see we have the Rotary, the Kiwanis, the Lion's Club, it helps the area because people are used to that. I don't think it can hinder the area whatsoever."

While any plans are up in the air, for now it seems the organizations would be allowed to use the facility for free.

"It's probably not something we would charge for," Hollis said. "We're trying to build some community."

<p>As construction of <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a>'s new town hall moves steadily forward, the fate of two of its old town halls hangs in the balance.</p><p>Construction on the new facility is on track for a Nov. 25 completion date, said Bob Morgan of Paragon Construction, the building's lead contractor.</p><p>"We're putting the roof on, and we're putting the exterior masonry on the building. The building is really taking shape. We're a little over halfway. The windows will be going in in the next month, and the exterior will finish up in the next two months," Morgan said.</p><p>Leland officials are a little more skeptical that the project will be finished on time.</p><p>David Hollis, Leland's town manager, noted that the contractors have used up $3.4 million of their $8.6 million budget, but that they are more than halfway through the project.</p><p>"They still think they're gonna make it.… We're hoping they'll finish on time," Hollis said.</p><p>Even as the new building's walls take shape, there are questions about what to do with the existing town hall and the town's original town hall facility. Both the new and old buildings are part of Leland's municipal office complex off Village Road.</p><p>At last week's town council meeting, Brunswick Senior Resources floated the idea of using the land on the Village Road end of the town's property for a new senior center, a proposal town officials say they're intrigued by.</p><p>"I think it's perfect, myself, and everyone was in agreement with that the other night. It's right there by the park. It'd be right there by the town hall and the police station," said Mayor Brenda Bozeman, who added that the council asked the group to put together a formal proposal for the plan.</p><p>The county has started setting aside money for the new Leland senior center. But there's no timetable or firm site yet for the project.</p><p>One possible hitch in the plan is what to do with the white building that originally housed Leland's town hall, which sits on the land Brunswick Senior Resources is proposing building on.</p><p>Bozeman said that she'd like to see the old town hall moved or integrated into the senior center because of its historic value, but that any discussion is preliminary for now.</p><p>There are also questions about what to do with the current town hall. Options on the table include letting civic organizations use it for meetings on an as-needed basis.</p><p>"I think it's good for the town economy to have them there," Bozeman said. "When people see we have the Rotary, the Kiwanis, the Lion's Club, it helps the area because people are used to that. I don't think it can hinder the area whatsoever."</p><p>While any plans are up in the air, for now it seems the organizations would be allowed to use the facility for free.</p><p>"It's probably not something we would charge for," Hollis said. "We're trying to build some community."</p><p><i></p><p>Adam Wagner: 343-2096</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @adamwagner1990</i></p>